These people have always accepted that some statements of...

These people have always accepted that some statements of the Nahj-ul-Balagha are superior to human expression and beyond the ordinary level of human being’s knowledge at that time. The conclusion is therefore drawn that, despite the absence of the chain of authorities and narrators in the Nahj-ul-Balagha, this book is undoubtedly that of the Commander of the Faithful and reliable as such. Thirdly, as you know and as we mentioned previously, the Nahj-ul-Balagha consists of the Sermons (i.e.

lectures, not the sermons delivered in the Friday ritual prayers, although the book may have included some of these sermons as well), Letters and short sayings of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, which he expressed and wrote as a teacher, ruler and an Islamologist. Thus, in addition to reflecting the general lines of Islamic thought, these sermons and…